Shovel mounted weed cutter

ABSTRACT

A weed cutter attachment for a round headed shovel blade has a body member in the form of a bowed plate provided with a bifurcated cutting surface on an edge of the plate. Each bifurcated part of the cutting surface is arcuate in plan, and cooperatively meets with the other part to form a substantially V-shaped recess. Clamps are arranged on a concave surface of the plate for selectively, retentively engaging a shovel blade and clamping the attachment onto the blade.

O United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,868,775

Anderson Mar. 4, 1975 1 1 SHOVEL MOUNTED WEED CUTTER 3,077,230 2/1963Guenon 294/59 x 7 2 1 1 memo 5 Anderson, Great Falls, 3135-3322? 51331221123;;:i:iii:1:31:jjjj....ijjj.f.i%i

on [73] Assignee: James R. Paul, Great Falls, Mont. FOREIGN PATENTS R,APPLICATIONS a part interest 330,961 6/1930 Great Brltam 294/49 850,5759/1939 France 294/59 [22] Filed: Aug. 13,1973

2 App] 3 7 54 Primary E.\'ami/1erAl Lawrence Smith AssistantE.\aminer,l. T. Zatarga. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. O'Brien;[52] [1.8. CI 30/329, 7/14.55, 172/375, Harvey B. Jacobson 294/49,294/51, 294/59 [51] Int. Cl A01b l/02, AOlb 1/22,A0ld 11/00 [58] Field61 Search 30/296 R, 296 A, 329; [571 ABSTRACT 7/1 55, 1 9 v 4/132; Aweed cutter attachment for a round headed shovel 172/371, 375 blade hasa body member in the form of a bowed plate provided with a bifurcatedcutting surface on an edge [56] References Cited of the plate. Eachbifurcated part of the cutting sur- UNITED STATES PATENTS face isarcuate in plan, and cooperatively meets with 457,271 8/1891 H1111294/51 99161133" to form a subsmmiany Y' recess- 46797] 3/1893 Hammer294/49 Clamps are arranged on a concave surface of the plate 3494 1915Lopez et aL 7/1455 for selectively, retentively engaging a shovel bladeand 1,278,680 9/1918 Klaffert 7/1455 clamping the attachment onto theblade. 1,307,328 6/1919 Van Valkenburg 294/59 X 1,730,759 10/1929 Crane7/14.4.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SHOVEL MOUNTED WEED CUTTER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings show a weed cutter at- Thisinvention relates generally to a cutting tool and 5 tachment selectivelymountable on a conventional specifically to a weed cutting attachmentfor a shovel.

2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. Nos. 467,971, issued Feb. 2,1892 to T. F. Hammer, and 876,793, issued Jan. 14, 1908 to A. Fossel,respectively disclose digging and tamping devices that are selectivelyattachable to a shovel blade, and the like. Further, US. Pat. Nos.249,665, issued Nov. 15, 1881 to R. T. Pettebone, and 3,623,556, issuedNov. 30, 1971 to M. E. Adams, show cutting tools attachable directly toa handle shank, and the like.

An advantage of cutting tools as disclosed in the latter two patentsmentioned above is that they permit one to cut close to a fence orbuilding structure, and also facilitate the cutting of thick, large sizeweeds. These operations are almost impossible to perform withconventional lawn mowers, whip-cutters, and scythes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a cutting tool that is selectively attachable to a shovel blade,and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a weed cutterattachment for a round-headed shovel blade.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present inventionby providing a shovel-mountable cutter tool having: a body member; ablade provided on the body member and arranged for cutting weeds, andthe like; and clamps mounted on the body member for attaching same to around-headed shovel blade, and the like.

Advantageously, the body member is a bowed plate having spaced concaveand convex surfaces. The bowing of the plate is preferably such that itwill conform to the usual contour of an associated shovel blade. In thismanner, clamps mounted on the concave surface of the plate can bearranged over a peripheral portion of the shovel blade for clamping theplate to the shovel blade. An advantageous feature of a cutting toolaccording to the present invention is the provision of a bifurcatedcutting surface forming the blade. This cutting surface isadvantageously arranged on an edge of the plate, and each bifurcatedpart of the cutting surface is arcuate in plan and cooperatively meetswith the other part to form a substantially V-shaped recess.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspectiveview showing a cutting tool attachment according to the presentinvention mounted on a shovel blade.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, with the shovel removed, taken generallyalong the line 33 of FIG. I.

shovel 12 having a handle 14 and a round-headed shovel blade 16. As canbe appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, shovel blade 16 isbowed in a plane transverse to the longitudinal extent of handle 14 soas to form a convex surface facing what is usually the upward surface ofshovel.

Weed cutter attachment 10 has a body member 18 in the form of a bowedplate having spaced concave and convex surfaces. A cutting blade 20having a bifurcated cutting surface formed on an edge of the plateforming body member 18 is provided on the latter for the purpose ofcutting weeds, and the like. As can be readily seen from the drawings,the cutting surface is divided into the bifurcated parts 22. Eachbifurcated part 22 of the cutting surface is arcuate in plan andcooperatively meets with the other part 22 to form a substantially V:shaped recess 24 partially bisecting the concave and convex surfaces ofthe plate along a line parallel to the longitudinal extent of handle 14.

Body member 18 is mounted on shovel blade 16 as by clamp members 26.Each clamp member 26, which may be considered as having an L-shape, ismounted on the concave surface of the plate forming body member 18, andhas a one leg 28 arranged spaced from and parallel to the concavesurface, and from the other clamp member 26, and another leg 30 attachedto body member 18 as by the illustrated screw fasteners. A bolt 32 isarranged in a threaded bore 34 for selectively, retentively engagingshovel blade 16 and clamping attachment 10 onto the blade 16 in such amanner that the V-shaped recess 24 is arranged bisected by a linecoaxial with the longitudinal extent of handle 14 and passingequidistant between the clamp members 26 and bisecting shovel blade l6.

To use an attachment 10,first loosen the setscrews or bolts 32 and placebody member 18 on the extreme end of shovel blade 16 in the manner shownin FIGS. I and 2 of the drawings. Body member 18 should be pushed ontoshovel blade I6 until legs 30 abut the edge of the blade. Now bolts 32may be secured, as with a wrench, after the body member is properlypositioned laterally of blade 16, and attachment I0 is clamped onto theshovel blade. When using attachment 10 according to the presentinvention, one merely skims the surface of the ground withthe device. Inthis manner, cutting is easily accomplished right up and against fences,houses, and the like. Further, the thick, large size weeds are easilycut with a minimum of effort by the user. Thus, as can be readilyappreciated from the above description and from the drawings, anattachment 10 according to the present invention provides aninexpensive, reliable, and easy-to-use cutting tool for numerous, everyday cutting jobs.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

3,868,775 3 4 1. A weed cutter attachment for a round-headed b. blademeans provided on the body member for shovel blade, comprising, incombination: cutting vegetation, the blade means including a bia. a bodymember; furcated cutting surface formed on an edge of the b. blade meansprovided on the body member for plate and divided into two parts, eachbifurcated onto the shovel blade.

utting g the blade means in g a i- 5 part of the cutting surface beingarcuate in plan furcated cutting surface formed on an edge of the andcooperatively meeting with the other part to body mem n divided into twop each form a substantially V-shaped recess partially bifurcated part ofthe cutting surface being arcuate Secting h concave d Convex Surfaces fth in plan and cooperatively meeting with the other l i d P to form aSubstantially p recess; and means mounted on the body member forattaching means mounted on the y member for attaching same to around-headed shovel blade, the means same to around-headed shovel blade,the means f r attaching including a pair f L Shaped clamp for attachingincluding a pair of L-shaped clamp members each clamp member mounted onthe mfimberst each clamp member mounted h a concave surface of the plateand having a one leg moh surface of the body member ahd having a Ohharranged spaced from and parallel to the concave leg arranged Spaced rand parallel to the surface, and spaced from the other clamp member, mohSurface and Spaced m other Clamp and means cooperating with the one legfor selecmember h means F i the one leg tively, retentively engaging around-headed shovel for Selectwely retentively ehgagmg a round blade andclamping the attachment onto the shovel headed shovel blade and clampingthe attachment blade with the V-shaped recess of the cutting surfacearranged bisected by a line passing equidistant between the clampmembers and bisecting the shovel blade.

6. In combination with a shovel having a shovel blade, a weed cutterattachment, comprising, in combination:

a. a body member;

b. blade means provided on the body member for cutting weeds, the blademeans including a bifur- 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, whereinthe body member is a bowed plate having spaced concave and convexsurfaces.

3. In combination with a shovel having a shovel blade, a weed cutterattachment, comprising, in combination:

a. a body member;

b. blade means provided on the body member for blade and clamping theattachment onto the shovel blade.

cutting vegetation, the blade means including a bifurcated cuttingsurface formed on an edge of the Gated Cutting surfaqefomled Oh ah edgeof h body member and divided into two parts, each bibody member and ftwo P i each furcated part of the cutting surface being arcuate hlrcatedpart of the E Surface h arcuate in plan and cooperatively meeting withthe Other m plan and cooperatively meeting with the other part to form asubstantially V-shaped recess; and P h a substahhahy VShaped recess Pmeans provided on the blade means for attaching hahy h the body member;

same to the shovel blade, the shovel blade being a means P Q the blademeans for HHaQhmg round-headed shovel blade the means for attaching Sameto the Shovel blade the Shovel blade bemg 3 including a pair of L-shapedclamp members, each rohhd'headed shovel blade, the y member clamp membermounted on a common surface of 40 bemg a bowed Plate havmg SpacedconcaYe and h b d member d h i a one l arranged convex surfaces, and themeans for attaching inspaced from and parallel to the common surface,Cludmg a P of p Clamp members each d Spaced f th th Clamp member, dclamp member mounted on the concave surface of means cooperating withthe one leg for selectively, the Plate and having a One leg arrangedspaced retentively engaging the round-headed h l from and parallel tothe concave surface, and

spaced from the other clamp member, and means cooperating with the oneleg for selectively, retentively engaging the round-headed shovel bladeand clamping the attachment onto the shovel blade with the 'V-shapedrecess of the cutting surface arranged bisected by a line passingequidistant be- 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the bodymember is a bowed plate having spaced concave and convex surfaces.

5. A weed cutter attachment for a round-headed shovel blade, comprising,in combination: tween the clamp members and bisecting the shovel a. abody member, the body member being a bowed blade.

plate having spaced concave and convex surfaces;

1. A weed cutter attachment for a round-headed shovel blade, comprising,in combination: a. a body member; b. blade means provided On the bodymember for cutting vegetation, the blade means including a bifurcatedcutting surface formed on an edge of the body member and divided intotwo parts, each bifurcated part of the cutting surface being arcuate inplan and cooperatively meeting with the other part to form asubstantially V-shaped recess; and c. means mounted on the body memberfor attaching same to a round-headed shovel blade, the means forattaching including a pair of L-shaped clamp members, each clamp membermounted on a common surface of the body member and having a one legarranged spaced from and parallel to the common surface, and spaced fromthe other clamp member, and means cooperating with the one leg forselectively, retentively engaging a round-headed shovel blade andclamping the attachment onto the shovel blade.
 2. A structure as definedin claim 1, wherein the body member is a bowed plate having spacedconcave and convex surfaces.
 3. In combination with a shovel having ashovel blade, a weed cutter attachment, comprising, in combination: a. abody member; b. blade means provided on the body member for cuttingvegetation, the blade means including a bifurcated cutting surfaceformed on an edge of the body member and divided into two parts, eachbifurcated part of the cutting surface being arcuate in plan andcooperatively meeting with the other part to form a substantiallyV-shaped recess; and c. means provided on the blade means for attachingsame to the shovel blade, the shovel blade being a round-headed shovelblade the means for attaching including a pair of L-shaped clampmembers, each clamp member mounted on a common surface of the bodymember and having a one leg arranged spaced from and parallel to thecommon surface, and spaced from the other clamp member, and meanscooperating with the one leg for selectively, retentively engaging theround-headed shovel blade and clamping the attachment onto the shovelblade.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the body member isa bowed plate having spaced concave and convex surfaces.
 5. A weedcutter attachment for a round-headed shovel blade, comprising, incombination: a. a body member, the body member being a bowed platehaving spaced concave and convex surfaces; b. blade means provided onthe body member for cutting vegetation, the blade means including abifurcated cutting surface formed on an edge of the plate and dividedinto two parts, each bifurcated part of the cutting surface beingarcuate in plan and cooperatively meeting with the other part to form asubstantially V-shaped recess partially bisecting the concave and convexsurfaces of the plate; and c. means mounted on the body member forattaching same to a round-headed shovel blade, the means for attachingincluding a pair of L-shaped clamp members, each clamp member mounted onthe concave surface of the plate and having a one leg arranged spacedfrom and parallel to the concave surface, and spaced from the otherclamp member, and means cooperating with the one leg for selectively,retentively engaging a round-headed shovel blade and clamping theattachment onto the shovel blade with the V-shaped recess of the cuttingsurface arranged bisected by a line passing equidistant between theclamp members and bisecting the shovel blade.
 6. In combination with ashovel having a shovel blade, a weed cutter attachment, comprising, incombination: a. a body member; b. blade means provided on the bodymember for cutting weeds, the blade means including a bifurcated cuttingsurface formed on an edge of the body member and divided into two parts,each bifurcated part of the cutting surface being arcuate in plan andcooperatively meeting with the other part to form a substantiallyV-shaped recess partially bisecting the body member; and c. meansprovided on the blade means for attaching same to the shovel blade, theshovel blade being a round-headed shovel blade, the body member being abowed plate haviNg spaced concave and convex surfaces, and the means forattaching including a pair of L-shaped clamp members, each clamp membermounted on the concave surface of the plate and having a one legarranged spaced from and parallel to the concave surface, and spacedfrom the other clamp member, and means cooperating with the one leg forselectively, retentively engaging the round-headed shovel blade andclamping the attachment onto the shovel blade with the V-shaped recessof the cutting surface arranged bisected by a line passing equidistantbetween the clamp members and bisecting the shovel blade.